CHESSanity was founded in 2014 by National Masters Warren and Wesley Wang, two brothers hailing from Jericho, NY, in response to huge demands from Long Island chess parents for quality and collegiate chess lessons.
National Master Warren Wang
Warren Wang visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum as an avid Yankees fan. (Pictured here with Babe Ruth's plaque).
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Warren after winning 6th place at the National Junior High School Chess Championship
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Biography
Learning chess at the age of four and beginning to play in tournaments before he was six, NM Warren Wang is a well-seasoned and very experienced chess competitor. Presently coached by GM Gennady Sagalchik, Warren has evolved into one of the top players in his age group in the United States. He has been consistently ranked in the top 100 for his age group in the country, having achieved this feat every month since April 2007. Additionally, he has attained the National Master title: a feat achieved by only four other Long Island players before the age of 18 (including his brother). Outside of chess, Warren has many different hobbies, many of which revolve around sports. He is currently on the high school varsity team for both tennis and badminton and has also played travel soccer for many years. Besides playing sports, Warren also loves to watch sports, particularly soccer, where he is an avid supporter of Chelsea FC and the Belgian national team. His other interests include films (particularly The Shawshank Redemption and many Christopher Nolan pieces) and certain types of trivia. Warren is a matriculating freshman at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Some of Warren's academic honors include being named as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist (Link) and one of 12 "Extraordinary Seniors" on Long Island by Newsday (Link). |
Chess Achievements
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FIDE Master Wesley Wang
Wesley playing at the 2015 World Youth Chess Championships at the Porto Carras Resort in Greece.
Autobiography Poem
Instead of talking about, all my life’s chess affairs, let’s talk about my world outside 64 squares. One of my best hobbies, is to write and rhyme. It’s what I’m doing right now, using my sense of rhythm and time. My sense of rhythm and time, is a sense I’ll have to demand. As it’s also useful in drums, if I want to make All-State Band. Tennis is another thing, Rhythm and timing is for, but I play many other sports, that’ll make my body sore. I play a lot of badminton, I also play soccer for fun, I used to take up swimming, but I feel like faster is to run. I’m positive and outgoing, meet my friends and you’ll know, They’ll say I’m very nice, at least I hope so! |
Wesley after being crowned the champion of the 6th grade at the National Grade Championships in Florida
Chess Achievements
Co-Champion!! - 2017 SUPERNATIONALS VI (K-9 Section) AND Team Champion Member - 2018, 2017, & 2016 All-America Chess Team 2017 U.S. Amateur Team Champions!!!! Champion - 2016 & 2015 National K-12 Grade Championships, 7th & 6th Grade (2 years in a row) Member - 2016 & 2015 National K-12 Grade Team Championship, 7th & 6th Grade Team (Jericho Middle School) Silver Medalist - 2016 North American Youth Chess Championships (U12 Open) Co-Champion - 2016 National Junior High Championship (K-8 Section) Member - 2016 AND 2017 U.S. Amateur Team East Champions!!! 5 Time U.S Qualifier - The World Youth and Cadets Championships (2014-2018) Champion - 2015 New York State Scholastic Championship Elementary Section (K-6) Champion - 2011 New York State Scholastic Championship K-1 Section |
From the Parents:
What sparked the idea of “Adopt a School” initiative was Warren’s few trips to Hempstead High School with his high school badminton varsity team. He was shocked at the tight security system there. As parents, we have found it improbable, if not impossible, to help the children truly understand how fortunate they are, who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and have been pampered all their lives.
Ever prideful of their chess achievements, Warren and Wesley are also fully aware that many chess players out there could have done as well as they did if given the opportunities and resources they had received. Thus, one of CHESSanity's main programs, the “Adopt a School” initiative was born.
Warren and Wesley have been teaching a group of 5 to 8-years-old kids since the spring of 2014, in response to the huge demands from the parents in nearby neighborhoods. Most of these students have graduated and the results are astounding. It has not been an easy journey for us as parents, and especially more difficult for Warren and Wesley. Just like their peers, they prefer video games and other activities, such as tennis, soccer, and badminton to name a few, in preference to school, say nothing about teaching! Nevertheless, with exception to holidays, school breaks and a few large chess tournaments of their own, Warren and Wesley's Friday evenings since April 2014 have been spent in classrooms, on teaching chess.
Warren and Wesley go as far as to loathe purchasing beverages from a vending machine and choose to bring water from home instead. It takes a big heart to donate such hard-earned money, especially money earned on a Friday night, to a charitable cause. As parents, we are very proud and feel much blessed.
We are incredibly grateful that Warren and Wesley can utilize their chess skills and make some meaningful impact upon the communities.